The Republic of Dagestan has officially existed since 1921. She is very young in this regard, although some of her cities are very ancient. This is a real country of mountains, where most of the territory is located at high altitude. Despite this, the cities of Dagestan can hardly be called high-mountainous, because most of them are located closer to the Caspian Sea, and the most significant are located on a narrow strip along the coast.

Districts and cities of Dagestan

The capital of the republic a little later than its formation was the city of Makhachkala, which is currently the administrative center. How many cities in Dagestan, it is easy to see on the map and count them on the fingers. In total, there are 10 cities in the republic, each is the administrative center for its urban district. The territory of the republic since 2013 has been divided into 4 large territorial districts. Each district can be assigned a corresponding list of cities in Dagestan.

• Central district: Makhachkala, Kizilyurt, Buynaksk, Kaspiysk and Izberbash.
• Northern District: Yuzhno-Sukhumsk, Kizlyar, Khasavyurt.
• The southern district includes Dagestan fires and Derbent.
• The mountain district includes Khunzakh, Botlikh, Akushinsky and many other regions.

So, we figured out how many cities in Dagestan, but besides them there are still urban-type settlements (there are 12 of them). The territory of the republic is also divided into municipal districts, there are 41 in total, and settlements are located in them.

Brief description of cities

As a rule, large cities of Dagestan are located on a flat territory in the coastal zone. All of them used to be small villages where residents were engaged in traditional crafts, until industry began to actively develop in the 20th century during the Soviet era. In the Republic of Dagestan, not only agriculture is currently developed, but also various kinds of industry, although during perestroika many enterprises fell into decay. The ethnic composition of the population is very diverse, Dagestanis and Russians live here, as well as other representatives of different nationalities.

Makhachkala

This is the largest city in the Republic of Dagestan, its population is 588 thousand people. It is also the capital, political and economic center.

Once upon a time, Tarki-aul was located on the site of the city, caravans that went to the ancient city of Derbent stopped here. In 1844, the Petrovskoe fortress appeared here, and then the settlement was named Petrovsk. The development of the city began at the end of the 19th century, when a railway was built from Rostov to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Industrial enterprises began to appear here, and the population gradually grew. In 1921, the city acquired a new name - Makhachkala, the name comes from the name of the local revolutionary Makhach Dakhadaev.

In the 1930s, the city began to develop rapidly. Houses were built, streets were equipped, water supply, hospitals and schools, and in some places defense enterprises appeared. With the beginning of the 1990s, the economy went into decline. Businesses were closed. In addition, radical extremist Islamic movements began to appear here. Despite this difficult period, the city is gradually being restored and improved. Today it is one of the most significant cities in the Caucasus, it is a scientific and economic center.

Derbent

Derbent is a real pearl of the Caucasus. Having been here, you can be convinced of how beautiful cities in Dagestan can be, they have a peculiar architecture, which exudes antiquity. The combination of an interesting culture with stunning nature makes this republic very promising in terms of tourism. Impressive photos of a city in Dagestan called Derbent are proof of this.

Derbent is a very interesting city in historical terms. It is located in the so-called Caspian passage. This is the place where the Caucasus Mountains are closest to the Caspian Sea, only a small strip of plain 3 kilometers wide remains. It is warm here, the average temperature is +13 degrees, there are a lot of sunny days throughout the year. This city is one of the largest in terms of population, it is in second place in the Republic of Dagestan after the capital - Makhachkala.

It is believed that this is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its history has been going on for 5 thousand years, although in modern times it is officially considered that it is only 2 thousand years old. There are disputes about this. In Soviet times, it was assumed that the city was founded 2700 years ago, as it is mentioned in ancient sources of the 8th-7th centuries BC. Such a point of view would be considered official if traces of settlements of the early Bronze Age were not found here, and their age is just 5 thousand years. It is officially accepted that the city is only 2000 years old, nevertheless, even this figure is impressive.

The name of the city is Persian, it means "Closed Gates". It can be assumed that these gates were closed to the encroached conquerors. In ancient sources, these places had a similar name - "Caspian Gates". This city was a strategically important point, many sought to take it under their power. At one time, the Scythians, as well as Cimmerians, Sarmatians, Huns, Parthians, Khazars and Turks visited here. The Romans and Greeks fought for the Caspian Gates. The city was at one time under the rule of Tamerlane. In 1813 it became part of the Russian Empire. Currently, 120 thousand people live in the city, it is gradually being improved and developed.

Sights of Derbent

The main attraction of Derbent is its fortress walls. The Derbent fortress was built by the Persians in the 6th century under Shah Khosrov I. It was built to protect against the Khazars and other nomadic peoples from the north. For construction, instead of the previous masonry, more reliable unhewn stone blocks were used.

Naryn-Kala citadel is located on a hill 3 kilometers from the sea. Two walls stretch from it to the shores. In the east, the fortress wall rushes to the sea for almost half a kilometer. The fortress of Derbent was included in the UNESCO list in 2003. Inside the fortress there is still a very ancient church, which miraculously survived from the 5th century.

The Juma Mosque is the main religious building of Derbent, and of the whole of Dagestan. In addition, this is the oldest mosque in Russia; for a long time it was the only one in the southern part of Dagestan. In addition to it, there are several other ancient mosques. These are Minaret Mosque, Bala Mosque, Kyrkhlyar Mosque.

Museums in the city can also arouse interest. For example, the unusual Carpet Museum is housed in an Armenian church. In Dagestan, carpets are still traditionally woven by hand; you can see beautiful ornaments and patterns on them.

This city got its name due to a very unusual phenomenon. As a result of the earthquake in 1904, gas emissions occurred here, which looked like torches. Soon, small businesses began to open in these places. The settlement began to develop slowly, the official date of foundation is 1914. And the settlement acquired urban status only in 1991.

Dagestan Lights is the youngest city in the republic, it is a satellite of Derbent. There is a glass factory here, during the war Molotov cocktails were supplied from here. Today it is the largest enterprise in the city.

Kizlyar

The official date of foundation of this city is 1735, but before that there was already a settlement here - an Arab fortress was located here. Then the Russians built a fortification here under the leadership of the general-in-chief Levashov, a monument was erected in the city in his honor. And since then the history of the city has been counted. In the XVIII-XIX centuries it was a significant center of trade.

Today agriculture is the most developed here. The city became famous thanks to knives. Kizlyar knives are known all over the world, significant weapons enterprises are located in the city.

Izberbash

This city is also young, founded in 1932, although the archives contain information about the existence of an earlier settlement of Ulu-Izbar on this site. It is mentioned in the travel journal of Emperor Peter I, date - 1722.

Izberbash appeared due to the development of the oil industry here. Oil production takes place on the shelf of the Caspian Sea, the city itself is located on the coast, 65 kilometers from the capital of the republic. It was built by oil workers and is recognized as the most comfortable in the country. In addition to oil producing enterprises, there is a radio plant, a garment factory, two confectionery factories, a city dairy plant, and a bakery. Nectars and juices are produced, and there is also a wine and cognac factory "Izberbashsky". Mount Pushkin-Tau is noteworthy, which with its outlines resembles the profile of a famous classic.

Buynaksk

One of the oldest cities in Dagestan. In its place, at the end of the 14th century, an aul arose, at about the same time in 1386, the camp of Tamerlane's troops was located here. Almost 3.5 centuries later, in 1832, a Russian fortification was founded here with the former name Temir-Khan-Shura (Lake of Tamerlane). This name remained until 1922. During the Civil War, this settlement was the capital of the Republic of the Mountains. The modern name comes from the name of the revolutionary Buynaksky. At the end of the twentieth century, sad events took place here, namely an earthquake in 1970 and a terrorist attack in 1999, when a residential building was blown up.

Currently, 64 thousand people live here, Buynaksk is multinational. It is included in the list of cities of Dagestan belonging to the central district. The nature in the vicinity of the city is very beautiful, the mountain river Shura-ozen flows nearby. The climate is mild, so there are sanatoriums for tuberculosis patients.

A city in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Dagestan, is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in the spurs of the Tabasaran Mountains of the Greater Caucasus, 121 km southeast of Makhachkala. The territory of the city closes a narrow coastal strip, known as the Derbent Passage or the Caspian Gates. Sea port. Railroad station. Regional center. Population 94.2 thousand people (2001). Founded in 438. City since 1840.

Coat of arms of the city of Derbent, adopted on May 21, 1843.

The main industries: machine tool building (grinding machine plant), radio industry (Electrosignal plant), production of building materials (Dagyugstroy OJSC). Wool-spinning factories, carpet weaving (KPO Derbent). Production of high-grade grape wines. Canning and cognac factories and other food industry enterprises.

Vineyards near Derbent. Dagestan is famous for its grape varieties. The Gadai variety is especially popular.

Derbent. Baking bread.

It was founded by the Iranian king Yezdegerd II (435-457) as a fortress city on the northern border of Persian possessions. The fortress guarded the passage between the Caucasus Mountains (Tabasaran range) and the Caspian Sea, located on the way between Europe and Asia Minor. In the 630s. Derbent was captured by the Khazars. From 652 as part of the Arab Caliphate. Mosques were built in the city, most of the inhabitants were converted to Islam. In the 8th c. Derbent is a large military and political center of the Caucasus, where the residence of the governor of the caliph was located. In the 10th century, with the collapse of the Arab Caliphate, Derbent became the center of an independent emirate. In 1071 the city was captured by the Seljuk Turks. In the 13th century Derbent, conquered by the Mongols, is falling into decay. In the 16th - early 18th centuries. within Iran. In 1722 annexed to Russia. In 1735 he again withdrew to Iran. Since 1743 the center of the Derbent Khanate, the residence of Nadir Shah. In 1796 it was occupied by Russian troops, and in 1813 it was finally annexed to Russia. Since 1840 Derbent has been a county town, since 1846 it has been a township. Since the 1840s experienced a rapid economic recovery, associated, in particular, with the cultivation of madder - a plant from which a cheap dye was obtained. In the 19th century horticulture, viticulture and fisheries were also developed. In 1898, the Petrovsk-Port (now Makhachkala) - Baku railway passed through Derbent.

Educational institutions: Derbent Humanitarian Institute, Derbent Institute of Arts and Culture, YuzhDAG Institute, a branch of the Dagestan State University, a branch of the Moscow Institute of Entrepreneurship and Law. Carpet school.

Fortress Naryn-Kala. Khan's yard.

Many historical and architectural monuments have been preserved in Derbent. In the part of the city adjacent to the mountains, a huge citadel, which has survived to this day, was built (its walls enclose the central part of Derbent). At the eastern wall there are buildings of the Albanian time (ancient), Sasanian and Arabic times (Sasanian palace of the 6th-7th centuries); at the bottom of the northwestern wall - pre-Mongolian times; above - 14-17 centuries. Also among the sights of the city: the ruins of the palace buildings of the Derbent Khan, the "stone bag" for the Khan's prisoners, baths (17th century), guardhouse (1828); fortress walls of Derbent with towers and gates (Kyrkhlyar-Kapy gate in the northern wall (6-13th centuries) and Orta-Kapy in the lower wall (built in the 6th century, rebuilt several times).

Fortress Naryn-Kala. Juma Mosque.

Derbent. Armenian temple.

BUYNAKSK

(until 1922 Temir-Khan-Shura), a city in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Dagestan, located in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, on the river. Shura-Ozen, 41 km southwest of Makhachkala. Road junction. Railroad station. Regional center. Population 55.9 thousand people (2001). Founded in 1834. City since 1866.

Coat of arms of the city of Temir-Khan-Shura (now the city of Buynaksk). Approved July 5, 1878.

The main industrial enterprises: OJSC "Buinaksk Aggregate Plant"; instrument-making and tire repair plants. Factories: furniture, shoe, knitwear, clothing. Cannery (produces preserves, jams, compotes).

Buynaksk is called the gate to the mountains, it is through it that the roads to many mountainous regions pass. At the end of the 16th century the conqueror Tamerlane set up camp at this place. Subsequently, the village of Temir-Khan-Shura arose here, which in 1866 received the status of a city and until 1921 was the capital of Dagestan. In 1921 it was renamed Buynaksk in honor of the revolutionary U. D. Buynaksky.
Educational and cultural institutions: Dagestan Islamic Institute named after Sayfulla Kadi, a branch of the Dagestan State University, a branch of the Moscow Institute of Entrepreneurship and Law. Avar Drama Theatre. Historical and Revolutionary Museum.

Buynaksk is home to the largest mosque and madrasah in the North Caucasus. In the vicinity of the city, rock carvings of the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 1st millennium BC have been preserved. e.

In the vicinity of Buynaksk there is a climatic resort area (anti-tuberculosis sanatoriums, etc.).

KHASAVIURT

A city in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Dagestan, is located in the southern part of the Tersko-Sulak plain, on the river. Yaryksu, 82 km northwest of Makhachkala. Railroad station. Regional center. Population 87.0 thousand people (2001). Founded in 1846. City since 1931.

Main branches of industry: production of building materials (JSC "Khasavyurt brick factory", factories of reinforced concrete products); instrument factory. Sewing and furniture factories. The food and flavor industry is developed, focused on the processing of local agricultural raw materials: a cannery (fruit, vegetable, canned meat), a meat processing plant, a dairy and wineries.
Founded as a military administration, Khasavyurt - the Kumyk "village of Khasava". Since 1867 freedom. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. trade freedom. City of Khasavyurt since 1931.

In the Khasavyurt region there are ancient Scythian burials (mounds).

KASPIYSK

A city in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Dagestan, is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, on the Primorskaya lowland, near the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, 14 km from the Makhachkala railway station. Population 70.0 thousand people (2001). Founded in 1932. Until 1947, the village of Dvigatelstroy. City since 1947.

The main industrial enterprises: Dagdiesel factories (diesel engines for marine vessels), precision mechanics, stone processing, brick. Factories: textile haberdashery, "Universal". CHP. Animal farming.

It emerged as a working settlement of Dvigatelstroy during the construction of an engine plant.

Educational and cultural institutions: Faculty of Mechanics of the Makhachkala Polytechnic Institute; local history museum; museum of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, test pilot S. Amet-Khan.

Features of science-intensive machine-building and instrument-making industries stimulated the development of their own scientific potential. Therefore, the design and technology department of the Leningrad Scientific Research Institute "Gidropribor" was created in Kaspiysk. The works of Caspian scientists - academician of the Academy of Cosmonautics Sh. G. Aliyev, doctors of sciences M. M. Abacharaev, A. D. Amaev, G. S. Gamidov, professor A. M. Amadziev have gained wide popularity. More than 20 PhDs work in our city of engineers.

Since 1992, the plant has been in a landslide conversion zone. Initially, the government of Yegor Gaidar even raised the question of the so-called "zero option", that is, the complete cessation of funding for the defense industry, but, thank God, it did not come to that. "At the top" realized that instead of transferring the well-equipped factories of the military-industrial complex to the production of pans or sausage machines, it is much more profitable to leave them in the same quality and not give up their place in the world arms trade. Now there are all signs that Russia is beginning to restore its lost positions in this type of business, with which Dagdiesel pins its hopes for the recovery and restoration of the main production.

Several difficult recent years have again shown the best qualities of our people - patience, sanity, the ability to maintain faith in the future. Thank them for this. The team survived also because they learned lessons from the conversion, because they had been preparing for it in advance since 1988. Suffice it to say that in recent years, Dagdiesel has mastered the production of about thirty civilian products - from electric meat grinders and furniture to stone-cutting machines and pneumatic tools.

The situation now, of course, is very complicated, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, which can be considered as the government's understanding of the special role of the military-industrial complex in the country's economy. And the plant itself, which has recently become a joint-stock company, is more and more skillfully adapting to market realities. So we look to the future with hope.

KIZLYAR

A city in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Dagestan, is located on the Caspian lowland, in the delta of the river. Terek, 170 km northwest of Makhachkala. Road junction. Railroad station. Regional center. Population 46.1 thousand people (2001). Founded in 1735. City since 1785.

The coat of arms of the city of Kizlyar was approved on September 7, 1842. In the upper half of the shield is an eagle with broken chains of Prometheus, sitting on a mountain, in the lower half - branches of grapes.

Economy

The main industrial enterprises: JSC "KEMZ" (electric household appliances), "KEAZ" (microswitches, consumer goods); garment factory. Food industry: a wine and cognac factory (since 1885), a canning factory in Nizhnetersk (production of canned fruits and vegetables), JSC Maslozavod, Khlebozavod, Golden Calf (meat processing plant), etc. Rice and grapes are grown in the Kizlyar region. Thermal water deposits have been discovered.

Story. culture

In the area of ​​modern Kizlyar, back in the 16th century. Russian border fortresses Terki-1 (1567), Terki-2 (1579), Terki-3 (1589) were founded. The settlement of Kizlyar was first mentioned in 1652. It was destroyed by a flood in 1725. In 1735 General-in-Chief V.Ya. In 1831, during the Caucasian War, the city was ravaged by the highlanders, but soon rebuilt. Since 1860, the center of the Kizlyar district (since 1905 - a department) of the Terek region. In 1922 included in the Dagestan ASSR; in 1937-44 as part of the Ordzhonikidzevsky (Stavropol) Territory, from 1944 - Grozny Region, in 1957 again transferred to Dagestan.

From the beginning of the 19th century Kizlyar is the center of a large region of viticulture, winemaking (the first winemaking school in Russia was opened in 1805), fishing and the fish trade. Horticulture, cultivation of vegetables, melons, rice, cultivation of silk cocoons was also developed in the region.

Cultural institutions: museum of local lore, house-museum of P. I. Bagration (born in Kizlyar).

Attractions

Sights and historical and architectural monuments of the city: the buildings of the former City Administration (now a museum), the Assembly of the Nobility (19th century), etc. In the Kizlyarsky district, 5 km southeast of the village of Nekrasovka, there is an ancient -3 centuries). To the east of Kizlyar, between the villages of Aleksandriyskaya and Krainovka, the remains of the Three-Walled Town have been preserved” (16th century).

Yuzhno-Sukhokumsk

Yuzhno-Sukhokumsk, in Dagestan, republican subordination, 312 km north-west of Makhachkala. It is located on the Terek-Kuma lowland, in the north-west of the Nogai steppe, on the periodically drying river. Dry Kuma, 95 km from the railway station Kochubey on the line Astrakhan - Kizlyar. It is connected by roads with the village of Kochubey - in the east and with the city of Neftekumsk (Stavropol Territory) - in the west. The population is 12.5 thousand people (1992; 10.4 thousand in 1979).
It was founded in 1988 from the settlement of oil and gas workers. Extraction of oil and gas (PA "Dagneft").

KIZILURT, in Dagestan, republican subordination, district center, 64 km north-west of Makhachkala. Located in the south of the Tersko-Sulak plain, on the river. Sulak. Railway station on the line Gudermes - Makhachkala. Highway (Rostov-on-Don - Baku). The airport. Population 35.3 thousand people (1992).
It was formed in 1963 from the workers' settlements of Kizilyurt, Bavtugai, and Sulak. The center of the agricultural region of irrigated agriculture, viticulture and animal husbandry (including sheep breeding). Plants - "Dagelektroavtomat", phosphorus salts; production of building materials. Chiryurtovskaya HPP (on the Sulak River).

IZBERBASH, in Dagestan, republican subordination, 56 km southeast of Makhachkala. It is located on the Primorskaya lowland, stretched along the coast of the Caspian Sea, from the north and west it is fenced by low ridges of the foothills of the Greater Caucasus. Railway station on the line Makhachkala - Baku. The highway Rostov-on-Don - Baku passes near the city. The population is 31.7 thousand people (1992; 22.1 thousand in 1979).
Established in 1932 as a settlement of oil workers. Since 1948, oil has been extracted from the bottom of the sea (from an offshore trestle). The city has been in the city since 1949. In present-day India, there is a plant for electrothermal equipment, the extraction of mineral construction raw materials, and enterprises in the food industry. Dargin Drama Theatre.

DAGESTAN LIGHTS, in Dagestan, republican subordination, 118 km from Makhachkala. Railway station Population 23.3 thousand people (1992). City since 1990. Factories: glass, brick, wine; carpet production.

Stunning nature is not the only wealth of the Republic of Dagestan (hereinafter referred to as RD). Any geographical area can be called a region, a republic or a country only if it is inhabited by people and built up with large and small settlements. The cities of Dagestan are a very interesting topic for the study of this original region. People were able to master and decorate them, building amazingly beautiful and cozy settlements.

Administrative-territorial structure of RD

In 2003, the Constitution of Dagestan was adopted, which is fully consistent with the legislation of the Russian Federation. Later, a number of amendments were made to it. Today in the republic, according to the Constitution, the statuses of all settlements are determined. The document also answers the question of how many cities there are in Dagestan. There are 10 cities here, each of which has republican significance and is the center of its urban district. There are also 41 municipal districts - they include many settlements.

All large cities are located, as a rule, on flat territories. All of them were once small villages, but in the 20th century, along with the usual occupations and crafts, industry began to develop here. At present, the republic is not only an agricultural, but also an industrial region. The population of the cities of Dagestan is a real international, since not only Dagestanis and Russians live here, but also representatives of many other nationalities.

List of cities in Dagestan - brief reference

Each of the major Dagestan cities has its own interesting history. Not all of them have at least a hundred years of city status, but the population of any of them has contributed to the history and flourishing of the republic. It is worth getting to know them better.

• Makhachkala is the capital, political and economic center.

The largest city of Dagestan, about 588,000 people live in it. Once upon a time, this place was Tarki-aul, which served as a trading hub, where caravans, following to Derbent, stopped. The future city was founded in 1844 as the Petrovskoye fortress, and a little later this village was renamed Petrovsk.

Rapid development began at the end of the 19th century, along with the construction of a railway from Rostov to Baku. In 1914, there were already several large industrial enterprises here, including an oil refinery. The population of the city grew, the infrastructure became more and more developed. But the real flourishing began only under Soviet rule.

In 1921, Petrovsk received a new name - in honor of Makhach Dakhadaev, a local revolutionary. Starting from the 30s, the rapid development of both industry and the social sphere began here. A real water supply appeared, streets and new quarters were built up, hospitals, schools were built, even defense enterprises appeared.

• - the ancient and southernmost city of Russia.

It is one of the most ancient cities in the world. It has been known since the 3rd century BC, as many ancient sources mention it. Initially, Derbent was one of the fortresses that belonged to Persia and was considered a major military center. In the 18th century, Peter the Great came here.

Many studies have been written about the history of Derbent, it is so rich and diverse that it can be told for a long time. The city was under the rule of the Seljuks, and Tamerlane himself, and the Safavid dynasty. And in 1813 it finally became part of the Russian Empire.

Derbent is one of the cities of the southern territorial district of Dagestan. Today its population reaches more than 120 thousand people. People of various nationalities live here. There are food industry enterprises, as many as 4 theaters. On September 19, 2015, the city officially celebrated its 2000th anniversary. Such a solid age does not make it old - the city still looks young and develops.

• Khasavyurt is the patrimony of the Kumyk prince Khasav.

• Dagestan Lights.

This unusual name was given to the city by gas flares - gas emissions from underground as a result of an earthquake. It happened in 1904, and a few years later small private enterprises began to appear in these places. Gradually, a settlement arose, officially the date is considered to be 1914. City status was assigned to the village only in 1991.

Thus, the Dagestan lights are the youngest city of the Republic of Dagestan, it is still a satellite of Derbent. It is interesting that the local glass factory during the Great Patriotic War produced Molotov cocktails as a product. The same enterprise today is the largest and most famous in the city. The population of the Dagestan Lights is about 30 thousand people.

• Buynaksk.

Another of the oldest Dagestan cities, founded as an aul at the end of the 14th century. In 1832, the Russian fortress Temir-Khan-Shura appeared here. During the Civil War, this settlement was the capital of the Mountain Republic.

The city received its modern name in honor of the revolutionary Ullubiy Buynaksky. About 64,000 inhabitants live here; like other cities of Dagestan, it is international.

• Kizlyar is a well-known center of gunsmiths.

It is believed that Kizlyar was founded in 1735, but long before that date there was an ancient settlement, one of the Arab fortresses. The starting point for the city was given by General-in-Chief V. Ya. Levashov, who built a Russian fortification here. At the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, Kizlyar was a very famous trading center.

Currently, the agricultural industry is developed here, there are several wine and cognac enterprises. Initially, the composition of the population was predominantly Russian, but today most of the people here are representatives of the Dagestan nationalities. Number - 48,000 people.

Glory to the city was brought by world-famous Kizlyar knives. Large arms factories operate in the city. Among them are LLC PP Kizlyar, Poisk, Berkut, etc. A huge selection of products by Kizlyar masters is presented in the catalog of the KavkazSouvenir store.

• Izberbash.

This is a young city, founded in 1932, in which the oil industry is predominantly developed. He received his status in 1949. It was the oilmen who rebuilt Izberbash and can be proud of the fact that in 2005 it was recognized as the most comfortable Russian city.

• Kizilyurt.

Another of the cities of the republic that arose in the 19th century. There was a fortification of local residents, on the basis of which the settlement subsequently arose. Currently, about 36 thousand people live here, and the city thrives due to the many enterprises in the construction industry, as well as tourism.

• Yuzhno-Sukhumsk.

This small town has a little over 10 thousand people, and it received city status in 1988 (before that it was considered a village). The main direction of the economy is oil production. The favorable location of the city between Kizlyar and allows the development of the trade sector.

• Kaspiysk is the base of the Anji football club.

It is located next to Makhachkala and is its satellite city, here is the only airport in the Republic of Dagestan. Until 1947, this was the village of Dvigatelstroy, which already speaks of the direction of industry that developed here. In 2015, by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, it was included in the list of single-industry towns with the most difficult socio-economic situation. The population of Kaspiysk is over 110,000 people.

Interesting facts about Dagestan cities

• The only ice-free port in Russia is located in Makhachkala.
• At one time, the republic was assigned a specific postal code. Today, the indices of cities in Dagestan are 368000 (the last three digits change), and the code of the region itself is 05.
• Each of the cities of the republic is distinguished by its originality. If you walk along the streets of Derbent, you can catch the charm of antiquity. And the streets of Kaspiysk and Izberbash delight the eye with clearly drawn lines and architecture typical of the Soviet period.
• Coastal cities include Derbent, DagOgni, Makhachkala, Kaspiysk and Izberbash. The rest do not have access to the Caspian Sea.
• Despite the fact that the territory of Dagestan is predominantly covered with mountain ranges, not a single city is included even in the top ten most high-mountainous large settlements in the Caucasus.

Distinctive features. A land of mountains that has been battered for millennia like the sails of a ship in a storm. It just so happened that the Republic of Dagestan has always been in the sphere of interests of larger and stronger states. Therefore, someone attacked her all the time with the constancy of ocean waves beating a rocky shore. Either the soldiers of Pompey, when advancing to the Caucasus, will run, then the devastating Genghis Khan will pass through a fiery wall and sweep away everything in its path. Either the restless Persians will pull up from the south, or Tamerlane will come with his armada. And from the 16th century, Russians also began to bite Dagestan on the sly.

But at the end of the 19th century, the conquerors calmed down a bit and left Dagestan alone, and after the formation of the Dagestan ASSR in 1921, the aggressor countries completely abandoned their claims to it.

To date, Dagestan, in terms of economic development, has squeezed into the middle of the list of all regions of the Russian Federation. The basis of the economy of the Republic is oil production, energy and food industry. By the way, it is here that world-famous Dagestan wines are produced.

In terms of nature in the Republic of Dagestan, everything is gorgeous. Paradise, and only. The sandy beaches of the warm Caspian Sea are not inferior to the Cote d'Azur in France in terms of comfort. And the snowy mountains, piercing the sky with four-kilometer peaks, are a great place for ski tourism and mountaineering. Of course, the mountain air also has wonderful healing properties. Therefore, it is not surprising that on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan there are a lot of health resorts, sanatoriums and recreation centers.

Speaking of Dagestan, one cannot fail to mention the huge number of waterfalls, including exceptionally rare and beautiful underground waterfalls.

Anyone who is interested in historical and cultural monuments will need 9 lives, like a cat, to see them all - after all, there are more than 6,000 waterfalls on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan!

Geographic location. The southernmost part of Russia, the Republic of Dagestan, rests on the Caspian Sea. By sea and by land it borders immediately with five states: Georgia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran. And on the territory of Russia it borders on Chechnya, the Stavropol Territory and Kalmykia. Such close proximity at once and with everyone was one of the reasons why the famous Great Silk Road passed through the Republic of Dagestan in the Middle Ages.

Mountains, dunes, forests, including the only subtropical liana forest in Russia, thousands of rivers, lakes with therapeutic mud, healing geothermal springs. In general, fullhouse.

Liana forest. Photo by Ta&Nik (http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/dtp-tanq/)

Population. The population of the Republic is 2,964,822 people, of which only 44% live in cities. One of the few regions of Russia where the population is constantly growing. This is probably due to the excellent health of the children of the mountains. There are quite a few Russians, only about 5%.

Crime. Extremely low crime rate. Only 2.3 crimes per 1000 inhabitants. Apparently, the Republic of Dagestan exports criminal elements to million-plus cities. Meanwhile, in Dagestan itself, the threat of terrorist acts still remains very urgent. With enviable regularity, someone or something is blown up.

Unemployment rate. Officially, unemployment is quite high: 11.7%. This is due primarily to the lack of permanent jobs in rural areas and insufficiently high rates of economic development of the Republic. But the population believes that the officials of the Ministry of Economy of Dagestan live in their own virtual world. Therefore, local residents themselves estimate the unemployment rate from 20% to 50%. The average salary is only 15,254 rubles, which, however, is 23% higher than last year.

Real estate value. In Makhachkala, you can buy a two-room apartment for only 1.5 million rubles, and in a good location. A one-room apartment can be found at all for 900 thousand rubles. This is in Makhachkala, because the capital. But in the same Khasavyurt for 1.7 million you can buy a luxurious three-room apartment. I wish there were such prices in St. Petersburg or Moscow ...

Climate- favorable. In every sense of the word. Extremely warm winters (average January temperature +1 degrees), dry and hot summers with an average temperature of 24 degrees in July. Precipitation, compared, for example, with Chechnya, is not so much - in just a year, an average of 200-800 mm falls.

Cities of the Republic of Dagestan

This is Makhachkala today. Photo by emir288 (http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/emir288/)

The main attraction of the city is the Yusuf Bey Jami Mosque. This is an area free from politics, a small oasis of faith, goodness and striving for God in the middle of the troubled and conflicted Caucasus..

Soul of the city. Photo by demaxi (http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/demaxi/)

People who want to move to this city or just visit it are unlikely to ever regret it. Of the advantages here, one can note a lot of theaters, museums, monuments, cinemas, shopping malls, excellent ecology, and most importantly - the sea. Remember? After all, in heaven they only say that about the sea.

It makes no sense to list all the monuments and sights - literally, every stone breathes history. But there are a few that are especially amazing. These are the Naryn-Kala stone citadel, which offers a wonderful view of the city, the Juma Mosque, which is one of the five oldest mosques in the world, and, of course, the great Derbent wall.

At the same time, today's Derbent is a fast-growing city, one of the centers of Russian beach tourism. Which is not surprising: the climate here is mild, subtropical, the beaches are strewn with golden sand, and the Caspian Sea warms up much faster than, for example, the Black Sea. And so the beach season here comes much earlier. In general, for relaxation and a calm, comfortable life without stress, this place is probably ideal. Population - 119,813 total people.

Republic within the Russian Federation. Formed in 1921 G. The name has been known since the 17th in. and means "Mountain country" (Turkic, Dag "mountain", stan "country, earth") . However, this name is valid only in history sense: after the inclusion of the Nogai steppes and plains of Kizlyar into the republic, only 56% of its total area falls on mountainous territories.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

Dagestan

(translated as "country of mountains"), a republic in Sev. Caucasus(Russia). Pl. 50.3 thousand km², the capital city of Makhachkala ; other large cities; Derbent , Khasavyurt , Kaspiysk , Buynaksk , Kizlyar , Kizilyurt. From the 7th century the territory of D. was part of the Khazar Khaganate, at the beginning of the 8th century. captured by the Arabs, in the XI century. - Seljuk Turks, in the XVI-XVIII centuries. within Persia. Between 1776 and 1813 the territory of D. was annexed to Russia. In November 1920, the autonomy of D. was proclaimed, in January 1921 - Dagestan ASSR within the Russian Federation. Since 1991 The Republic of Dagestan .
Sev. h. D. is on Caspian lowland. , along which numerous irrigation canals are laid ( Nogai steppe , delta Terek and Sulaka); south hours (56%) are occupied by mountains Bol. Caucasus(Bazarduzu city, 4466 m). A number of reservoirs have been built on mountain rivers. (Chirkey and others). The climate is continental; to the sowing plains - steppes and semi-deserts (reed thickets in swampy deltas), vertical zonality is pronounced in the mountains - from steppes and shrubs in the foothills to broad-leaved and coniferous forests (covering about 10% of the territory) on the slopes, to alpine meadows in the highlands. Dagestan Reserve .
Population 2584 thousand people. (2002), density 51.4 people. per 1 km²; urban 41.5%. 80.6% of the population is made up of the peoples of D., including Avars (27.5%), Dargins (15.6%), Kumyks (12.9%), Lezgins (11.3%), Laks (5 .1%), Tabasarans (4.3%), Nogais (1.6%), Rutuls (0.8%), Aguls (0.8%) and Tsakhurs (0.3%). Russians (9.2%), Azerbaijanis (4.2%), Chechens (3.2%) and Mountain Jews (Tats) live in cities and towns along the Caspian coast. The language of communication is Russian, training is conducted in native and Russian; literary languages ​​- Avar, Dargin, Lak, Lezgi, Kumyk; nat. theaters - Avar in Buynaksk, Kumyk, Avar and Lak - in Makhachkala, Lak in Kumukh, Lezgin in Derbent, Dargin in Izberbash. All the peoples of D. profess Islam; Wahhabism is widespread, condemned by Muslim hierarchs D.
Extraction of oil and gas, quartz sands. Machinery, Appliances and Electrical Engineering, Chemical, Construction, Glass, Light, Wine, Food. prom. Wheat, rice (in the Terek delta), grapes are grown on the plain. Gardening, vegetables, transhumance and pasture sheep, beekeeping both on the plain and in the mountains. D. has long been famous for carpet weaving, art. crafts: Kubachi - jewelry, daggers and sabers, Gotsatl - chasing on copper; production of ceramics, jugs. A number of resorts; beautiful sandy beaches on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The main port and airport are in Makhachkala; main transp. axes: Grozny - Khasavyurt - Makhachkala - Derbent - Baku and Astrakhan - Kizlyar - Karlanyurt - Makhachkala. Numerous mosques, ruins of fortresses, mausoleums have been preserved; picturesque terraced mountain villages. Here is the genus. and lived Imam Shamil, poets S. Stalsky, R. Gamzatov, Z. Gadzhiev; composers S. Agababov and M. Kazhlaev.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Dagestan is a republic within the Russian Federation (cm. Russia), located in the southeastern part of the North Caucasus, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. Dagestan occupies an area of ​​50.3 thousand square meters. km, its population is 2166 thousand people, 40% of the population lives in cities (2001). The national composition is dominated by Avars (27.9%), Dargins (16.1%), Kumyks (12.9%), Lezgins (12.2%), Russians (7.3%), Laks (5%). In total, representatives of 102 nationalities live in Dagestan. The republic consists of 39 districts, 10 cities, 14 urban-type settlements. The capital is Makhachkala, the major cities are: Derbent, Buynaksk, Khasavyurt, Kaspiysk, Kizlyar. The Dagestan ASSR within the RSFSR was formed on January 20, 1921, since 1991 it has been called the Republic of Dagestan; part of the Southern Federal District.
The leading branches of the Dagestan industry are mechanical engineering and metalworking (separators, thermal, electrical equipment, instruments, machine tools, excavators; ship repair); fruit and vegetable canning, fish, wine-making), chemical (phosphorus salts, fiberglass, varnishes, paints), light (woolen, knitwear, shoe) industries are also developed. The production of building materials has been established. Economic growth is fueled by oil and gas production. Agriculture of the region includes plant growing, the main crops of which are cereals (wheat, corn, barley, rice), industrial crops - sunflower. Climatic conditions contribute to the development of fruit growing, vegetable growing and viticulture. The main branch of animal husbandry is sheep breeding.

natural conditions
On Russian territory, Dagestan borders the Stavropol Territory, Kalmykia and Chechnya. In the south and south-west of the republic there is a border with Georgia and Azerbaijan. The extreme southern point of Russia (41°10 N) is located on the border with Azerbaijan. In the east, Dagestan is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. In the northern part of the republic there is the Tersko-Kuma lowland (28 m below sea level), in the southern part - the foothills and mountains of the Greater Caucasus (the Gunib plateau); the highest point is Mount Bazarduzu with a height of 4466 m. The mountains occupy 44% of the territory of the republic. The very word "Dagestan" in translation from Turkic means a mountainous country. The main rivers of Dagestan are Terek and Sulak. The republic has deposits of minerals: oil, combustible gas, quartz sand, oil shale, coal, iron ore, mineral springs.
The climate of Dagestan is temperate continental, arid. In the mountainous part, it changes with height: temperature drops, humidity rises. In the southern, coastal part, the climate is transitional from temperate to subtropical. The average temperature in January is from +1 °С in the lowlands to -11 °С in the mountains, the average temperature in July is up to +24 °С. Precipitation falls 200-800 mm per year. Dagestan is distinguished by a variety of vegetation and climatic zones: subtropical forests, deserts and semi-deserts, high mountain tundras and glaciers. There are more than a hundred small lakes on the territory of the republic (mainly in the lower reaches of the Terek and Sulak). At an altitude of 500-600 m to 1500-1600 m there are forests of oak, hornbeam, beech, as well as birch and pine. On the plateau of mountainous Dagestan and on the northern slopes of the ridges, mountain steppes and meadow-steppes extend into subalpine and alpine meadows. Forests and shrubs occupy 9% of the territory of Dagestan. In the animal world, there are typical representatives of the Asian steppes and European fauna: the Dagestan tur, the Caucasian snowcock, the Radde hamster, the North Caucasian weasel. In the floodplain forests and in the valleys of the Terek and Sulak, red deer, roe deer, jungle cat, and wild boar have been preserved. Of the birds - Caucasian pheasant, hazel grouse, Caucasian black grouse, ducks, geese, swans, herons. Numerous lakes are rich in fish (carp, bream, pike perch, catfish, pike, trout). Sturgeon, herring, bream, pike perch, and vobla live in the Caspian Sea. On the territory of the republic there are the Dagestan Reserve, the resorts of Kayakent, Manas, Talgi.

Story
The oldest monuments of the Stone Age, discovered on the territory of Dagestan, belong to the Acheulian era. At the end of the 1st millennium BC, the territory of Dagestan was part of Caucasian Albania, then the power of the Sassanids. From the 5th century AD, independent state formations were formed on the territory of Dagestan: Derbent, Lakz, Tabasaran, Serir, Zirikhgeran (Kubachi), Kaitag, Gumik. In the 6th century, Dagestan survived the invasion of the Huns. In the 7th century, in the steppes of the North-Eastern Caucasus, the Khazar state (Khazar Khaganate) was formed, which included the northern plains of Dagestan. In 664, the Arab invasions and the spread of Islam among the highlanders of Dagestan began. In the 11th-12th centuries, a number of independent states formed on the territory of Dagestan (Derbent emirate, Avar Khanate, Kazikumukh shamkhalate, Kaitag utsmiystvo). During this period, Islam in Dagestan became the dominant religion.
At the beginning of the 13th century, Dagestan was conquered by the Mongol-Tatars. In the 14th century, the Tatar troops of Uzbek, Tokhtamysh and Timur invaded the country. From the 15th century, Iran began to expand into Dagestan. Since the 16th century, Dagestan has entered the zone of interests of Russia. In 1722, the troops of Peter I invaded coastal Dagestan and annexed it to Russia. However, according to the Ganja Treaty (1735), Russia, interested in an alliance with Iran against Turkey, ceded these territories to him. Dagestan again became part of Russia under the Treaty of Gulistan (1813), which ended the Russian-Iranian war of 1804-1813.
The highlanders of Dagest put up active resistance to Russian expansion into the Caucasus. The peoples of Dagestan, Chechnya, and Circassia took part in the Caucasian War of 1817-1864. The founder of the movement for independence was Imam Gazi-Magomed. His work was continued by Imam Shamil, an Avar by nationality. Shamil led the struggle of the highlanders against Russia for 25 years. In the mountains of Chechnya and Dagestan, he created an imamate state. After Shamil surrendered to honorary captivity (1859), the mountaineers' war against the Russians began to fade.
In 1860, the Dagestan region of the Russian Empire was formed. From the middle of the 19th century, especially after the construction of the Vladikavkaz railway in the 1890s, industry actively developed in Dagestan. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were about 70 industrial enterprises in the region. In 1918-1920, the territory of Dagestan became the scene of the Civil War. On January 20, 1921, the Dagestan Autonomous Republic was formed as part of the RSFSR. In May 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic adopted a new name - the Republic of Dagestan. In August 1999, terrorist gangs under the command of Sh. Basayev and Khattab invaded Dagestan, proclaiming their goal the creation of a single Muslim state in the North Caucasus, but were driven back to Chechnya. These events served as the beginning of the Second Chechen War.

Attractions
On the territory of Dagestan there are unique natural monuments: the world's largest free-standing dune Sary-Kum; the only subtropical liana forest in Russia in the Samur delta; Sulak Canyon, which is deeper than Colorado Canyon; Kugsky "Eolian city", which is a mountain remnant in the form of towers, pillars and arches; Karadakh gorge, called the "Gate of Miracles"; the largest mountain lake in the North Caucasus, Kezenoyam, abounding in trout; Aimakinsky gorge, inhabited in ancient times; many large (up to 100 meters high) and small waterfalls.
Many monuments of history and culture have been preserved in Dagestan. The most famous are the defensive system of Derbent with the Naryn-Kala fortress (4th century), the high-mountain village-fortress of Kala-Koreish (9th century), and the Juma mosque in the village of Kumukh (13th century). The republic is famous for its decorative and applied products. Here are such centers of applied arts as Kubachi (jewelry decorated with niello, engraving, enamel), Gotsatl (copper chasing, jewelry), Balkhar (painted ceramics), Untsukul (wooden products with silver notch, bone inlay, mother of pearl) .
The most common type of handicraft is carpet weaving. The secrets of the craftsmanship of carpet weavers are passed down from generation to generation. Dagestan carpets can be found in the museums of New York, Paris, Montreal, Milan, Tokyo. There are 18 museums on the territory of the republic, including the state united historical and architectural museum, the museum of fine arts. Constitution Day is a national holiday of the peoples of Dagestan, celebrated on July 26.
"Ots Bai" (bull-harness holiday) - the beginning of spring plowing among the Avars and other mountain peoples of Dagestan - is held in late February or early March. The exact day is set depending on the weather, so it takes place at different times in different areas. The holiday includes the rite of harnessing bulls, refreshments and competitions. In Kubachi, annually on the fortieth day of spring, counting from the equinox, a colorful feast of holy water is held with dances and songs.
The city of Buynaksk is located in the basin of the Shura-Ozen River, 46 kilometers from Makhachkala, with which it is connected by highway and railway. Population - 55.9 thousand people (2001). Buynaksk is called the gate to the mountains, it is through it that the roads to many mountainous regions pass. At the end of the 16th century, the conqueror Tamerlane set up camp at this place. Subsequently, the village of Temir-Khan-Shura arose here, which in 1866 received the status of a city and until 1921 was the capital of Dagestan. In 1921, the city was renamed Buynaksk in honor of the revolutionary Ullubiy Buynaksky.
The city of Kizlyar is located in the northern part of Dagestan, on the left bank of the Stary Terek River, 130 kilometers from Makhachkala. Population - 46.1 thousand people (2001). The first mention of Kizlyar dates back to the beginning of the 17th century. It received city status in 1735. Kizlyar is the ancient center of the Russian wine industry. The Kizlyar cognac factory and the winery are located here. There are many historical monuments in the city, including those associated with the name of P.I. Bagration - the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, a native of the city of Kizlyar.
The Dagestan Reserve is located 18-20 km northwest of Makhachkala in Dagestan, includes the Kizlyar Bay (18,485 ha) on the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Sarykum Dune (576 ha) on the left bank of the Shura-Ozen River. The reserve was founded in 1987, its area is 19061 hectares (18900 hectares are occupied by the water area). Kizlyar Bay has a shallow depth (on average 1-2 m), its shores are heavily indented by estuaries, it is almost completely covered with dense thickets of reeds; the Kuma River flows into its northern part. Barkhan Sarykum is the largest dune in Russia (252 m). The fauna of the reserve is rich: about 30 species of vertebrates, 90 species of birds and 30 species of fish. Wild boar, reed cat, muskrat, raccoon dog live in reeds. The protected area is a wintering place for migratory birds. Of the rare species, there are flamingo, pelican, spoonbill, loaf, Sultan's hen, red-throated goose, small cormorant, Egyptian heron, little bustard, bustard.

Resorts
There are four resort areas on the coast of the Caspian Sea: Makhachkala, Manas, Kayakent and Samur coasts. The Talgi Resort is located in the foothill zone of the Talga Valley, at the eastern foot of the Kurort-Bash mountain, surrounded by treeless slopes of mountain ranges. It is famous for its highly concentrated sulfide springs, the water temperature in which is about +37 °C. The building for medical procedures is equipped with an aerosolarium, treatment and diagnostic rooms and a laboratory.
On the territory of the resort Kayakent (Kayakent seaside) there is a small thermal lake Dipsus, which contains reserves of peat therapeutic mud, the temperature of which is from +35 °С to +42 °С. The climatic resort of Manas is located 20 km from the city of Izerbash. Gunib is a mountain climatic resort, one of the most beautiful places in Dagestan, located at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level, almost in the center of Nagorny Dagestan, southwest of Buynaksk. Mount Gunib rises above the mountainous area, and in the upper part of its edges are steep, below the slopes become more gentle. The top of the mountain forms a longitudinal hollow, along which a river flows, cascading down several waterfalls into Koisu. In the valley there are meadows and groves. In addition to mineral waters and mud, the local climatic conditions have an unusually healing effect: mild subalpine climate, clean air, plenty of sun, absence of winds, picturesque landscape.
Akhty is a balneological resort, located at an altitude of about 1000 meters above sea level, on the left bank of the Akhtychay River. For medicinal purposes, mineral waters from five hot salt-alkaline springs and two sulfuric-alkaline springs are used here. The climate is characterized by moderately hot summers, warm and dry autumns, low humidity and lack of strong winds. In addition to treatment, tourists can see the sights of the ancient village of Akhta. The name Akhty appeared in the 10th century, before that the village often changed its name. Akhty is the birthplace of the first theater in Dagestan - the Lezgin Theater (in 1906 - a circle, in 1935 - a theater).

Folk crafts

Kubachi products are famous all over the world. (cm. Kubachi) and Untsukul masters. The Avar settlement Untsukul is the center of artistic carving with metal on wood, located on the left bank of the Avar Koysu River. The Untsukul fishery arose at the beginning of the 19th century. Initially, handles, whips, canes and stacks were made here. During the Caucasian War, weapons workshops appeared in Untsukul. At the end of the 19th century, local art products were sold in the Caucasian Mineralnye Vody, in Rostov, Tsaritsyn and Astrakhan, and at the beginning of the 20th century, the works of the Untsukul masters were exported abroad. For inlay with copper, cupronickel, silver, hard wood was used. Cornel and apricot wood was steamed over the fire, took the desired shape and firmly held the pieces of inlay. Often on the Untsukul product there is an image of an ancient symbol - a solar sign. In the 20th century, Untsukul craftsmen produced various decorative items, in particular, wall dishes and panels.

Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

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Glossary of Lemkiv speaking

- (Republic of Dagestan) in the Russian Federation. 50.3 thousand km². Population 1854 thousand people (1991), highlanders 44%, Avars, Dargins, Kumyks, Lezgins, Russians, etc. 39 districts, 10 cities, 14 urban-type settlements (1991). Capital Makhachkala. AT… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary